Having in our previous study (Which please see if you have not already) entitled Tabernacle Insights, Dimensions of the Tabernacle Courtyard, we would now like to examine this issue a bit further (as well as the rest of the Tabernacle), howbeit here we will be focusing more specifically upon the spiritual significance of the Tabernacle, The Tabernacle itself as well as its courtyard and the various items found there. Here then is a point which is often overlooked and/or totally misunderstood by many students of the Tabernacle both secular (non-believer) and professing Christians alike.

Specifically, we want to know,

1) Why all the various components of this structure were designed and composed of the materials they were.

2) Why they were specifically placed where they were, and lastly

3) Having examined the type or shadow, how does this relate antitypically, that is to say what is the spiritual lesson being given here.

Note: We will not be examining every aspect of the furnishings (dimensions, various elements of its construction, and etc.) as this will be covered subsequently in future articles, but here will only briefly discuss each item as our concerned here is centered on its function, the materials of which it is constructed and its particular placement in the layout of the Tabernacle.   

“The Tabernacle is the key to the divine plan, which alone explains the “mystery” of this Gospel age, which is the church and her special call to the privileges of sacrifice now and the privileges of glory by and by. (R 4434)

In our examination we will be comparing several other views of the Tabernacle found throughout the internet and elsewhere so as to distinguish between the correct or acceptable view and those which we believe have erred in their presentation of the Tabernacle. There are in fact many depictions of the Tabernacle to be found some which are only slightly off while others are found to be in gross error. We should of course expect to see this as like we had stated many students of the Tabernacle (not all of whom are religious) are worldly or natural men, and as the scriptures state,

“The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14

“Many (natural men, many of them good men, honest men, learned men) have undertaken to interpret “the things of the Spirit of God“, which are only discernable to those guided by His spirit and thus they become blind guides, leading multitudes into error, and filling their minds with erroneous conjectures (the vein imaginings of men). Unfortunately, the children of this world and the children of the kingdom of God too frequently are found joined together at the same table. The effect always tends to bring in worldliness (i.e., worldly mindedness, worldly thoughts, opinions and interpretations) giving the worldly (the naturally) minded a measure of self-assurance concerning spiritual things, things which in truth they have little to no real understanding.”

Nevertheless, as our Lord attempted to explain to Nicodemus (a natural man, a religious and learned man) so too we should like to at least make the same effort even though we know we should fare no better. For as the Master stated to Nicodemus,

“I assure you; we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony.” — John 3:11

Yet to those begotten of the Father’s spirit he states,

“Blessed are the eyes (the eyes of your understanding), which see the things you see, for I tell you that many prophets (men of great learning) and kings (likewise many great and honorable men) have desired to see (to discern) what you see, and have not seen it (no matter how much they’ve looked into it), and to hear what you hear (what you are able to perceive and comprehend), and have not heard it.” Luke 10:23, 24

Once again,

“The Tabernacle which God commanded the people of Israel to construct in the Wilderness of Sin, and in connection with which all their religious services and ceremonies were instituted, was, the Apostle Paul assures us, a shadow of good things to come. (Heb 8:5; 10:1; Col. 2:17) This being true, our understanding of the plan and work of salvation now in progress, as well as their (i.e. natural Israel’s) future development, cannot fail to be greatly enlightened by a careful study of those “shadows” which the Israelites, for our edification, were caused to repeat year by year continually until the Gospel age introduced their antitypes–the realities. 1 Pet 1:11; Heb 10:1-3

It is not simply to gain a historical knowledge of the Jewish forms, ceremonies and worship that we come to the investigation of this subject, but that we may be edified by understanding the substance (the reality or antitype) from an examination of the shadow–as God designed in arranging it.

Realizing God’s care in making the “shadow” (his exactness in its construction and insistence that every minute detail associated with its services be exactly performed upon penalty of death) should not only give us confidence in its correctness, that not one jot or title of it shall fail until all be fulfilled (Matt 5:18), but should also awaken in us so great an interest in God’s plan as would lead us to examine closely and search carefully for the meaning of those shadows.”

The Tabernacle was a house constructed of a series of boards of shittim (acacia) wood, “overlaid” or plated with gold, set on end into sockets of silver, and firmly fastened together by bars of the same wood, also covered with gold. It consisted of two chambers the first upon entering was designated the “Holy” and the second beyond a veil which divided the two chambers was designated the “Most Holy” together these two compartments constituted the Tabernacle proper. This structure as a whole was covered first by a large white linen cloth, interwoven with figures of cherubim, in blue, purple and scarlet, followed by three additional coverings one of goat’s hair, another dyed red of ram’s skins, and the last of seal skins.

“The Tabernacle was surrounded by a yard, or “Court,” toward the rear of which it stood. This court, 75 feet wide (50 cubits) and 150 feet (100 cubits) long was formed by a fence of linen curtains…This enclosure was all holy ground, and was therefore called the “Holy Place“–also the “Court of the Tabernacle” (Most Bible Students simply refer to it as the “courtyard”). Its opening, like the door of the Tabernacle, was faced towards the east, and was called the “Gate” or “Entrance Curtain” This “Gate” was of white linen, interwoven with blue, purple and scarlet.”

Excerpts taken from “Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices”, Pages 11-14

In our next post we shall begin by taking a look at several versions of the Tabernacle courtyard to determine which views coincides with the spiritual lessons the Lord would have us learn from the tabernacle’s layout and various appointments.